AP PHOTOS: Americans watch Trump and Biden in election debate
Jocardo Ralston, 47, from Pennsylvania, looks up to a television to watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie’s Lounge on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, met for the first general election debate of the 2024 season — a chance for the candidates to try to reshape the political narrative and persuade undecided voters.
Thursday’s 90-minute debate was held in Atlanta and hosted by CNN. Americans with varying opinions on the nation’s most pressing issues gathered at venues across the country for watch parties.
Elaine Freeman, a Trump supporter from Oxford, Ohio, and employee at the local Veterans Affairs hospital, said the economy is the most important issue in this election. For her family, the cost of living is too high and she has trouble covering the cost of basics like groceries every week.
“For what I make, 15 years ago I would be considered upper middle class... I should not be living paycheck to paycheck.”
Adriana Varea, a policy and legislation fellow for the League of United Latin American Citizens, said immigration is a huge issue and that gun control should be addressed. She said she goes to school in Lewiston, Maine, the site of a mass shooting in 2023 in which 18 people were killed.
“Gun control is definitely something that I’m passionate about,” said Varea, who was at a debate watching event in Las Vegas.
Reginald Marsh, owner of the M Lounge in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, watched with customers and said there’s not one top issue for him.
I just believe Trump is dangerous for this country.”
London’s Bar & Grill in McAllen, Texas, is normally loud on a day close to the weekend, but the owners said they were surprised so many were quiet and engaged with the debate.
Hector Mercado, a military veteran donning a beret who lives in Edinburg, Texas, said he liked what Trump said about closing the border.
Virginia Lopez was also at the Texas bar and said she’s an undecided voter.
It’s like somebody gave Trump an Adderall and I don’t think they gave Joe one.”
Unfortunately I feel that this is the first time where I don’t even know who I want to vote for, I really feel that one of them, the Republican, I’m disappointed with what he’s done, with his behavior. And the other one, I just feel like he’s too old.”
President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump are reflected in the glasses of Agenor Leite, who recently moved to the U.S. from Brazil, during a presidential debate viewed from Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Andrea, a migrant from southern Mexico, poses as others watch the presidential debate in a shelter for migrants waiting to apply for asylum, June 27, 2024, in Tijuana, Mexico, as President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, met for the first general election debate of the 2024 season. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Well, I feel that the people of the United States don’t love Mexicans now.”
Yea, he said a few things bad about about veterans at one point back in the early days. But now he’s saying, no, I back up the veterans and I never had any problems with him. I got a raise in my VA disability when Trump was president.”
Vanessa Soteldo listens to a simultaneous translation into Spanish on her cell phone as she watches the first general election debate of the 2024 season between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, on a giant outdoor screen at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, June 27, 2024, in Cape Coral. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Amy Pottinger, wearing a Biden/Harris sweatshirt, claps as President Joe Biden comments on how Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump handled January 6th as people watch the presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed bar, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
I feel like Biden was slow at the beginning but once Trump got him angry, now he’s back in the game. Once he started talking about Roe v Wade it was like Biden woke up and was here.”
Trump supporter, Lucas Federico, 21 years old, from New York, center, watches the debate during the Young Republicans’ Presidential debate watch party, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Lori Lahrmann left, and Tonya Morris, second from left, both from Cincinnati, watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie’s Lounge, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. Both plan to vote for President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
I’m with Trump on that (immigration), I think Biden will win it, but Trump has some good points there too. Just because I am an African American doesn’t mean I am a Democrat, But Trump got some good points.”
Financial consultant Alec Anello relaxes in a hammock as he watches the debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, on a giant outdoor screen during a watch party at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, June 27, 2024, in Miami. The viewing party was organized by the Biden-Harris campaign and the Florida Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rosa Casares, center left, reaches down to where her daughter is laying on a blanket as she watches the presidential debate in a shelter for migrants waiting to apply for asylum, June 27, 2024, in Tijuana, Mexico. Casares and her family have been waiting for more than three months for their appointment to apply for asylum through the CBP One app. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
